Sunday, October 21, 2012

A Sad Note

Today my worst fear has come true - my most loved lens, the Canon EF 200mm f1.8 has stopped working.  I have had this lens for many years, and used it with all sorts of Canon cameras from the original 1Ds to the 1D Mark III and always gave me fantastic image quality.  We went to Guildwood Park today and everything was fine and I even took some pictures with it on our way home, but it's now dead.  No AF or even manual focus.

I am so sad, because the most likely case will be that there is no part to fix it.  Canon no longer has parts for this 24 year old lens.  It remains the fastest auto focus 200mm consumer lens in the world.  I will try the repair shops, but my hope is not too high.

Dillon Getting the shot - Canon 1D Mark III & EF 200mm f1.8 @ f1.8. Click for larger.

Autumn Colours - Canon 1D Mark III & EF 200mm f1.8 @ f1.8. Click for larger.

Sally with the wrong camera :) - Canon 1D Mark III & EF 200mm f1.8 @ f1.8. Click for larger.

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5 comments:

  1. Mike AubreyOctober 21, 2012 at 10:15 PM

    That's unfortunate.

    I hope you can get it repaired.

    Looking online, it seems like buy a use copy of the lens would be much cheaper than replacing it with the newer 200mm f/2...

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    Replies
    1. Lens BubbleOctober 21, 2012 at 10:18 PM

      Thanks Mike. True the used copy is cheaper, but the risk of not being able to repair it is still there. One never knows when the lens will stop working.

      Delete
  2. obakesanOctober 21, 2012 at 10:32 PM

    Hi, when I first spotted this in my reader I was tempted to make a reply on "worst fears", none the less I agree with the sentiment. I personally have been worried about the increasingly significant electronic component to lenses, and being an electronics based fella know only too well that its normaly that which gives out before the mechanical things do. Also they are the parts which simply can not be replaced.

    Ultimately it a risk, but my EF24 f2.8 (touch wood) still soldiers on even if you can't read the model number on it any more...

    thanks for your kind thoughts too btw

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    Replies
    1. Lens BubbleOctober 21, 2012 at 10:55 PM

      You are absolutely correct on the aging of electronic parts in Lenses. Very often the parts are unique to the lens, such as the ring USM in the 200mm f1.8L, which is the problem most of the time. Once exhausted, these parts are no longer financially feasible to re-make them, as there aren't that many of these lenses in the wild anyway. Your 24/2.8 is actually a lot more reliable, as it does not have the huge lens elements to move by the motor.

      Delete
  3. Android IndonesiaJanuary 1, 2014 at 9:50 PM

    sharp imagee, amazing..
    thank you :)

    ReplyDelete

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